Vegging Out: Asheville, North Carolina

Vegging Out: Asheville, North Carolina

PHOTOS Clockwise from upper left: Rosetta’s Kitchen Tempeh Ruben (Warner Photography), The Green Light Café (Shanon Blair), and Tupelo Honey Café (Peak Definition).You can find a vegetarian meal at just about every restaurant in Asheville, NC, but if youre looking for exceptional, mouth-watering, cant-be-missed eats, don’t step out on the town without this guide to a perfect day of eating and drinking in the City of Light.

8:00 AM Start the day off on the right foot with a fresh-pressed, local, organic juice from The Green Sage Coffeehouse and Café. The most popular juice on the menu is their Red Planeta combination of ginger, carrots, apples, and beets.

9:00 AM Hungry for breakfast? Tupelo Honey Café (pictured above) is just a five-minute walk from The Green Sage. If your belly is grumbling, youll be happy to discover a plate of complimentary biscuits with honey and jam ready for nibbling while you survey the menu. The fluffy sweet potato pancakes topped with whipped peach butter and spiced pecans are a no-brainer, but if youre looking for a simple and fresh vegan delight, try Grandmas (homemade) Maple Granola with soy milk and fresh fruit.

1:00 PM After working up an appetite while enjoying Ashevilles eclectic attractions all morning, stop by Rosettas Kitchen for a hearty lunch. You cant go wrong with their Veggie Burger, Tempeh Reuben (pictured above), or Smoky Tofu Wrap. In case your sweet tooth hits early, Rosettas always has a variety of tasty vegan desserts ready for the taking!

3:00 PM If you need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, stop by The Green Light Café (pictured above) for a refreshing smoothie. The crowds rave about the Date Shakea sweet and frosty mixture of bananas, dates, cinnamon, and almond or soy milk. Sip it while checking out the exhibit at the adjoining art gallery.

7:00 PM Arrive at the Laughing Seed Café with a hefty appetite. The menu is 100% vegetarian, with Thai, Mediterranean, and Caribbean flair. Since you might be overwhelmed by the abundance of delicious sounding dishes, the Thai Panang Seitan Curry or Raw Spinach-Pesto Manicotti hit the spot every time.

9:00 PM Put the cherry on top of your day at The Hop Ice Cream Café. The Hop serves imaginative vegan desserts made from scratch! Some of their best sellers include: the Mexican Chocolate Cake ice cream (made with local bakery Short Street Cakes‘ Vegan Spicy Chocolate Cake), the Espresso Floata single or double shot of locally roasted organic espresso poured over a scoop of ice cream, and the Kombucha Sorbet (made with local Buchi Kombucha!).

Corinne Bowen is a freelance journalist and copywriter, living in Baltimore, MD with her husband and daughter. She blogs about her adventures in writing, veggies, marriage, and motherhood at CorinneBowen.com.

comments

there are a few spots I was not aware us and now I am reading your article thanks so much was wondering where vegetarians go for breakfast. I try to avoid soy and tempeh though

Anonymous - 2011-08-24 17:01:58

Asheville's only 100% vegan restaurant just opened last week (mid-August). It's called Plant and is located at 165 Merrimon Ave; their phone number is: 828-258-7500. Reservations are suggested. The chef and part-owner was the chef at the Laughing Seed for years. The place is amazing - be sure to check it out!
http://www.plantisfood.com

Ann Green - 2011-08-24 11:36:59

I went to college in Asheville and it was a vegetarian paradise! The Laughing Seed and Rosetta's (great late night fare) are personal favorites of mine.